Tomb Raiding

One of the fun things we love about Tomb Raider is it’s light hearted, vibrant aesthetic. The newly rebooted titles are gritty as the franchise has ever been. But, what if this idea was taken a step further? The Tomb Raider 2013 release had a very creepy survival aspect to it. From the very beginning, Lara was knocked unconscious by a dangerous island inhabitant after she and her crew washed up on shore. The idea held a very dark and mysterious undertone, but the development’s execution persisted a disconnect from its potential to becoming a very real survival horror title.

When TR-2013 was first revealed, it was initially thought to have been entering the horror genre. Though, the studio had made it clear during it’s campaign that the game would not follow in that direction. It was still a survival action game. A young girl exploring the far reaches of the world, encountering some of the most dangerous predators and environments on the planet.

With the island of Yamatai’s lethality demonstrated throughout the course of the game, we see deep underground caverns littered with the bodies of many souls, dating back generations. Brutal sacrifices, bodies burned at the stake. Dangerous, murderous men skulking around the grounds of Yamatai with nothing to lose. These are just some of the things that could have made the final game much darker than it actually was. But with bright, beautiful landscapes, and ordinary voices that spoke for the many demented members of “the Solari,” it’s hard to perceive this new version of the franchise as “frightening.” And that is perfectly okay. That’s how the franchise has always been, only now it has a slightly darker tone to its narrative.

With all of these brilliantly implemented set pieces, can Lara Croft really take on a much more twisted sense of reality?

Recently, I was at home watching a horror film favorite. To be specific, I was watching “The Hills Have Eyes 2” on HBO. Throughout the movie, one of the characters really stuck out to me. A gorgeous blonde woman, scared shitless, but armed and persistent to save her friend who was abducted and taken to the mines that lie under the desert canyons. Resourceful and clever, she fought her way through the disgusting deformed mutants who cackled and haunted the jagged hollow hills.

Can Tomb Raider ever go survival horror? Would fans go for this? How far can this idea actually go? Can you see Lara traversing through the deep Virginia Hills, searching a lost valley for a long forgotten artifact? Can you picture Lara Croft fighting off hordes of mass inbred mountain men that only wish to consume or harm her? Perhaps it would be a good thrill and a fascinating journey to see Lara prevail. Seeing her thrive in a situation we would never expect to witness or experience!

As a long time survival horror fan, I personally think this would be a fantastic take and addition to the franchise. But I’m curious, what do you think? Let me know in the comments below your thoughts on this idea!

Rise of the Tomb Raider’s newest DLC “Cold Darkness Awakened” is now live on the Xbox One Marketplace! Lara must now face hordes of infected throughout the dark Siberian forests as she attempts to halt the infection from spreading. Featuring new puzzles and survival horror gameplay, this expansion conveys an eerie aesthetic, alluding a menacing sense of dread.

Lara battling zombies in a survival horror Tomb Raider fashion has long been on my wish list! Fans of the TR franchise and the horror genre should be quite pleased with this newly released expedition mode! Check it out below!

Decommissioned during the Cold War, a dormant weapons research base has been breached, unleashing a mysterious affliction into the Siberian wilderness that transforms men into blood-thirsty, mindless killers. Lara must overcome increasingly dangerous waves of these infected adversaries while scavenging their equipment and crafting additional gear on the fly, in kill or be killed survival-combat. Fight for your life against new enemies and complete new challenges, while discovering a way to stop or perhaps even reverse this impending catastrophe. Includes the Ushanka outfit, which reduces Lara’s damage from melee attacks, the devastating Voidhammer shotgun, and the Cold Darkness Awakened Card Pack which includes over 15 new Expedition Cards.